Recliner mechanism

ABSTRACT

A device for blocking and adjusting the inclination of fittings, such as a recliner mechanism, a vehicle seat, has a first fitting part which has a latch tooth, and a latching element ( 2 ) which has a mating latch tooth, the latch tooth and the mating latch tooth are brought into engagement and arrested in the engagement position by means of a clamping element under the force of a spring, acts on the latching element and is movable counter to the force of the spring via adjusting means. The clamping element has a toothing in which is engaged by a mating toothing situated on a toothed element, the force of the spring acts on the toothed element and acts indirectly on the clamping element via the toothing and mating toothing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to International Application No.PCT/EP2004/002160 filed on Mar. 4, 2004, and German application no.DE10312140.4, filed Mar. 19, 2003, all of which are incorporated hereinby these references.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to a device for blocking and adjustingthe inclination of fittings, in particular for adjusting the inclinationwith respect to each of the two components situated on a vehicle seat,such as a seat part and a backrest part.

PRIOR ART

Known devices are disclosed in the documents DE 198 45 698 A1, DE 195 22854 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,608. In the case of the device forblocking adjustment fittings or a recliner mechanism on vehicle seatsaccording to DE 198 45 698 A1, which adjustment fittings have a latchingregion which has a toothing, and a latching element which has a matingtoothing, the toothing and the mating toothing can be brought into andout of engagement and can be arrested in the engagement position. Thesubject matter of the DE 198 45 698 application relates to a specialtooth design, according to which, in the engagement position, the tipsof the teeth at their apex maintain a distance from the correspondingtooth roots of the respectively opposite elements and the correspondingteeth bear against one another by means of the tooth flanks. The toothflanks are connected to the apex via a curved transition regionbeginning at the tip end. The connection region, which is situated atthe end of the tooth flanks, between tooth flanks and transition regionis arranged displaced in the direction of the tooth root of the oppositeelement by means of a reduction of the transition radius. This design isintended to provide greater safety in the event of a higher force input.

The fitting of recliner mechanism for adjusting the inclination ofbackrests of motor vehicle seats that is disclosed in DE 195 22 854 A1has a first articulated part and a second articulated part, one of whichis connected fixedly to the seat and the other of which is connectedfixedly to the backrest. In this case, the second articulated part iscoupled pivotably to the first articulated part and has a latch teethwhich can be fixed in different pivoting positions by means of a lockinglever formed for engagement therewith. The locking lever has a matingteeth corresponding to the latch teeth of the second articulated part.The two toothings can be blocked in engagement divisions by means of ablocking lever. The blocking lever is mounted pivotably on the firstarticulated part, and locking lever and blocking lever have mutuallycomplementary control surfaces. The blocking lever in turn bears anarresting lever, which is mounted pivotably, can be displaced via anadjusting means and has a projection which, in a first pivoting positionof the arresting lever and in the blocking position of the blockinglever, bears against a stop surface of the first articulated part. In asecond pivoting position, the projection is situated away from the stopsurface of the first articulated part and therefore permits blockinglever and locking lever to pivot so as to be free. Here, too, thisdesign is intended to provide greater safety in the event of a crash, inparticular a satisfactory blocking of the pivoting position which hasbeen set.

The device according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,608 also has a similarconstruction to the abovementioned fittings or recliner mechanisms. Inall of the known devices, the clamping element, which is also referredor could also be referred to as a clamping cam, unit of blocking leverand arresting lever, “operation lever” or clamping eccentric, is drivenvia a tension spring which is fastened to this component and under theaction of which the clamping element is moved into or secured in aposition which produces or secures the engagement position of thelatching element.

As adjusting means in order to move the clamping element counter to theforce of the spring in such a manner that the latching element comes outof engagement, Bowden cables are mentioned and illustrated in DE 195 22854 A1 and in DE 198 45 698, and a handling device designed integrallywith the clamping element is mentioned and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.4,836,608. GB 2 059 496 A describes a device for blocking and adjustingthe inclination of fittings, but which is not constructed according tothe type described above for which a transmission rod is used asadjusting means. The transmission rod engages at both of its ends infittings which are fitted on both sides of a seat.

The known use of tension springs for arresting and producing theengagement position has an unfavorable effect on the designing of theconstruction space, the “package”, due to the required length of thesprings and may also cause noises during the actuation due to thefriction occurring in their attachment means during rotation. Since thespring is pivoted during the actuation, the spring may also, because ofthe changing angular position of the spring, have a force/travelcharacteristic in which the adjusting force, with increasing distance ofthe latching element from the fitting part with the latching toothing inan end region, no longer—as desired—rises, but rather drops again aftera dead center position is exceeded. During a manual adjustment, this mayundesirably influence the operator's sensation of control duringactuation.

It would be an improvement to have a recliner device for blocking andadjusting the inclination of the type described above using structurallysimple means such that a more favorable design of the construction spacecan be obtained, production of noise can be damped and an improvedsensation of control during actuation can be produced for the operator.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a recliner mechanismincluding a device for blocking and adjusting the inclination in which aclamping element has a toothing in which a mating toothing engages andis situated on a toothed element and force of a spring acts on thetoothed element and acts indirectly on the clamping element via thetoothing and mating toothing.

In a preferred embodiment the spring can form a constructional unit withthe toothed element, which includes a toothed element which is designedin the manner of a toothed wheel and is driven by a leg spring or spiralspring, and most preferrably in flat spiral spring, which is favorablein terms of construction space. The flat spiral or torsion spring ofthis type does not change its angular position when they becomeeffective, and can advantageously also be dimensioned in such a mannerthat it has a desired, for example, a linearly or progressively rising,force/travel characteristic.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in thedescription below. The invention is explained in more detail withreference to two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the attacheddrawing which are not intended to be limiting in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows, in a cut open, perspective illustration, a deviceaccording to the invention for blocking and adjusting the inclination,according to one embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows, in an enlarged illustration in comparison to FIG. 1, aclamping element and a constructional unit of a toothed element and aspring of a device according to the invention for blocking and adjustingthe inclination, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows, in an enlarged illustration in comparison to FIG. 1, aclamping element and a constructional unit of a toothed element and aspring of a device according to the invention for blocking and adjustingthe inclination, according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows, in a perspective illustration, a molded part which can beused in an advantageous development of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the various figures of the drawing, identical parts are always alsoprovided with the same reference numbers, with the result that they aregenerally also only described once in each case.

A device according to the invention for blocking and adjusting theinclination of fittings can be used in particular for adjusting theinclination with respect to each other of two components situated on avehicle seat, such as a seat part and a backrest part as is commonlyknown as a recliner mechanism.

As FIG. 1 best shows, a device of this type for blocking and adjustingthe inclination comprises a first fitting part 1 which has a latch toothla, and a latch element 2 which has a mating latching toothing 2 a andis designed in the manner of a pivotable pawl. The latch tooth 1 a andthe mating latch tooth 2 a can be moved into engagement—and, ifappropriate, as for the case illustrated in which this does not takeplace under the action of gravity, also out of engagement—and can bearrested in the engagement position by means of a clamping element 3which acts on the latch element 2 and can be moved via adjusting means.

The clamping element 3 has, for moving the latch element 2, a controlcontour 3 a which is used for interacting with a corresponding controlcontour 2 b of the latching element 2.

In order to securely hold the latch element 2 in its engagement positionin the latch tooth 1 a of the first fitting part 1, i.e. in theself-locking pivoting position illustrated in FIG. 1, even in the eventof dynamic loads, the clamping element 3 is spring-loaded. For thispurpose, the clamping element 3 has a toothing or sector 3 b whichenlarges a mating toothing or sector 4 a situated on a toothed element4. In a manner favorable in terms of installation and constructionspace, the toothed element 4 forms with a spring 5 a constructional unitE which can be arranged into an otherwise free construction space in thefitting part. The force of the spring 5 thereby acts indirectly on theclamping element 3 via the mating toothing 4 a and toothing 3 b. In apreferred embodiment, the spring 5 is designed as a torsion spring(i.e., as a leg spring), as FIG. 2 best shows.

The toothing 3 b of the clamping element 3 and the mating toothing 4 aof the toothed element 4 are preferably designed as external toothingsdesigned at least in the manner of segments, as illustrated in all ofthe figures. The first fitting part 1, the latch element 2, the clampingelement 3 and the toothed element 4 can be pivoted relative to oneanother about respective pivot axes X1, X2, X3, X4. In this case, if abevel gear toothing is not used, the pivot axes X1, X2, X3, X4 are inparticular arranged parallel to one another. The first fitting part 1,the latching element 2, the clamping element 3 and the toothed element 4here have fastening openings O1, O2, O3, O4 which are arrangedconcentrically about their respective pivot axes X1, X2, X3, X4 and arepartially filled, in particular in the case of the first fitting part 1and the latch element 2, by corresponding fastening elements (notreferred to specifically).

The latch element 2, the clamping element 3 and the toothed element 4are fastened to a second fitting part 6, the angular position of which,i.e. the inclination, relative to the first fitting part 1 can bechanged and fixed with the aid of the recliner device according to theinvention for blocking and adjusting the inclination. The first fittingpart 1 can be fastened, for example, to a first component of a vehicleseat, such as a seat part, and the second fitting part 6 can be fastenedto a second component of a vehicle seat, such as a backrest part, orvice versa.

As far as the construction of the second fitting part 6 is concerned, itshould be noted that FIG. 1 involves a cut open illustration of a deviceaccording to the invention. This means that the second fitting partincluding a first wall 6 a depicted and of a second wall (notillustrated) which covers the remaining components 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and isessentially identical in design and is connected fixedly to the firstwall. The components 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are held in or between these wallsvia the fastening elements which have already been mentioned, engage inthe fastening openings O1, O2, O3, O4 and are not referred tospecifically in the figures. The adjusting means (likewise notillustrated) for moving the clamping element 3 may preferably be atleast one transmission rod which acts on the clamping element 3 and/oron the toothed element 4 and in particular engages axially in therespective fastening opening O3, O4 thereof.

The operation of the device according to the invention for blocking andadjusting the inclination is as follows.

In the illustration shown in FIG. 1, there is a certain inclination withrespect to each other of two components situated on a vehicle seat, suchas a seat part and a backrest part. This inclination is expressed in theangular position of the first fitting part 1 with respect to the secondfitting part 6. By means of the engagement of the latch tooth 1 a of thefirst fitting part 1 in the mating latch tooth 2 a of the latchingelement 2, this angular position is fixed and is secured by means of theclamping element 3 which is under the force of the spring 5. In order tobring the latch tooth la of the first fitting part 1 and the matinglatch tooth 2 a of the latching element 2 out of engagement, the toothedelement 4 is moved counter to the force of the spring 5 with the aid ofthe adjusting means, to be precise is rotated in the direction of thearrow R4 shown in FIG. 1. The engagement of the mating toothing 4 a ofthe toothed element 4 in the toothing 3 b of the clamping element 3means that, in consequence, the clamping element 3 is rotated or pivotedin the direction of the arrow R3. Owing to the interaction of the, inparticular lug-like, control contour 3 a of the clamping element 3 withthe corresponding control contour 2 b of the latching element 2, whichcontour is designed in particular as an engagement opening, the latchingelement 2 is pivoted and, as a result, the engagement of the matinglatch tooth 2 a of the latching element 2 in the latch tooth 1 a of thefirst fitting part 1 is canceled. The inclination of the first fittingpart 1 relative to the second fitting part 6 can then be adjusted bypivoting about the axis X1. The adjusting force acting counter to theforce of the spring 5 is then canceled, and the latching element 2returns under the action of the spring 5 into its engagement division bydynamics proceeding inversely to the movements illustrated.

FIG. 2, shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1, reveals that the toothedelement 4 can advantageously be composed of an outer ring 4 b and aninner ring 4 c which are braced against each other by the spring 5. Inthis case, the spring 5 is arranged concentrically to the outer ring 4 band the inner ring 4 c about the axis X4 and between the outer ring 4 band the inner ring 4 c in a manner favorable in terms of constructionspace.

FIG. 3 shows a further advantageous design of the spring 5 in theconstructional unit E formed from toothed element 4 and spring 5. Thespring 5 here is designed as a spiral spring, in particular as a flatspiral spring, and is likewise arranged concentrically about the axis X4in the fastening opening O4 of the toothed element 4 in an extremelyfavorable manner in terms of construction space, i.e. in a space-savingmanner. In this case, like the spring 5 in the first embodiment, it isencircled by an outer ring 4 b which bears the mating toothing 4 a onits outer circumference.

Although the design according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is more costly tomanufacture in comparison with the embodiment according to FIG. 3, ithas the advantage, as a function of the seat geometry, that thetransmission rod which can be fitted in the fastening opening O4 isarranged to the rear and therefore outside the comfort region of theseat. If the seat geometry permits this, then for cost reasons theembodiment according to FIG. 3 is preferably used.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments illustratedbut rather also comprises all embodiments acting in an identical mannerwithin the meaning of the invention. Thus, in particular, shaping,dimensioning and position of the constructional unit E and of itscomponents toothed element 4 and spring 5 may differ from theembodiments illustrated. As an alternative to the fastening or torque ortransmission rods mentioned as being preferred, it is also possible forother means, such as, for example, the Bowden cables already mentioned,to be used as the adjusting means.

Furthermore, the person of ordinary skill in the art can supplement theinvention by means of additional advantageous measures without departingfrom the scope of the. invention. Thus, as likewise illustratedgraphically a respective fine toothing F3, F4 can be provided around theperiphery of the fastening openings O3, O4 of clamping element 3 and/ortoothed element 4, into which fine toothing a molded profile part 7(FIG. 4) for receiving one end of a transmission rod, which is used asan adjusting means in order to bring the first fitting part 1 and thelatching element 2 out of engagement, can be pressed coaxially (X2and/or X3 with X7). In this case, the bushing-like molded profile part 7can have, in its fastening opening O7, a profiled inner contour K7 whichcan be positioned during the pressing-in operation in such a manner thatthe molded profile part 7 is arranged in a defined position with respectto the second fitting part 6. This defined position may exist, forexample, by the distance of a marking point of the inner contour K7 fromone or more reference points of the second fitting part 6, such as thepenetration points of the axes X2, X3 of the latching element 2 or theclamping element 3. The effect achieved by this is that two devicesaccording to the invention which are to be fitted on both sides of aseat part can be synchronized at a very early point, i.e. during theinstallation, and do not have to be coordinated with each other in ahigher stage of assembly. As a result, different positions of theclamping element 2 that occur due to tolerances are compensated for, andthe transmission rod can be fitted in a manner free from distortion. Themolded profile part 7 may take up any desired position in an infinitelyvariable manner irrespective of the division of the inner contour K7,for example of a toothing of clamping element 3 and/or latching element4.

1. A device for blocking and adjusting the inclination of fittings, inparticular for adjusting the inclination with respect to each other oftwo components situated on a vehicle seat, such as a seat part and abackrest part, comprising a first fitting part which has a latch tooth alatch element having a mating latch tooth the latch tooth and the matinglatch tooth being able to be brought into engagement and being able tobe arrested in the engagement position by means of a clamping elementwhich is under the force of a spring acts on the latching element and ismovable counter to the force of the spring the clamping elementcomprising a toothing coupled to a a toothed element comprising a matingtoothing, the force of the spring acting on the toothed element andacting indirectly on the clamping element via the toothing and matingtoothing.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring formsa constructional unit (E) with the toothed element.
 3. The device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first fitting part, the latchingelement, the clamping element and the toothed element can be pivotedrelative to one another about respective pivot axes (X1, X2, X3, X4)wherein the respective pivot axes being arranged parallel to oneanother.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring isdesigned as a torsion spring.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the spring is designed as a leg spring.
 6. The device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the spring is designed as a flat spiral spring. 7.The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control contourfor interacting with a corresponding control contour of the latchingelement.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first fittingpart, the latching element the clamping element and the toothed elementeach have a fastening opening arranged concentrically about theirrespective pivot axes (X1, X2, X3, X4).
 9. The device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the toothing of the clamping element and the matingtoothing of the toothed element are each an external toothing segment.10. The device as claimed in one claim 1 wherein the latching element,the clamping element and the toothed element are fastened to a secondfitting part.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the toothedelement comprises an outer ring and an inner ring which are bracedagainst each other by the spring.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11,wherein the spring is arranged concentrically with and between the outerring and the inner ring.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising an adjusting means for moving the clamping element,comprising at least one transmission rod which acts on the clampingelement and on the toothed element.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 1wherein the spring has a linearly rising, force/travel characteristic.15. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein a respective fine toothing(F3, F4) is provided around the periphery of the fastening openings (O3,O4) of clamping element and/or toothed element.
 16. The device asclaimed in claim 1 wherein a molded part for insertion into the clampingelement is configured for receiving one end of a transmission rod, themolded part being a bushing and having a profiled inner contour in itsfastening opening.